Beware of Impostors—Are Carbon Fiber Vinyl Wraps Made of Real Carbon Fiber?

Carbon fiber is known for its usefulness in the automotive industry, particularly among race car teams. Its strength-to-weight ratio makes it a quality choice for race car parts and accessories. Professional racing crews and enthusiasts know the product well. The amateur motor enthusiast needs to be aware of the terms used in the automotive industry. Not all of the carbon fiber options available are actually made from real carbon fiber. Here’s what you need to know about the difference between carbon fiber products and carbon fiber wraps, vinyl, films, and sheets.

Authentic carbon fiber has the appearance of a woven fabric and is made from crystalline filaments that can be formed into sheets of carbon fiber fabric. This is where terms like wrap and vinyl might be confusing. Some styles of carbon fiber sheets are flexible and can easily bend around a large object such as a race car, but in the automotive industry, this isn’t the preferred use for carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is used in molds to make lighter weight race car parts and components, not for visual appeal. When you see the terms carbon fiber wrap, carbon fiber vinyl, or carbon fiber film, you need to be aware that these items are imitation carbon fiber products. They are not actually made from carbon fiber polymers. Items billed as carbon fiber vinyl are typically sold in rolls or sheets. These are PVC-based adhesives that stick onto things, like a wrap on a car’s front hood. It mimics the look of carbon fiber, but this product isn’t made from the real thing. If the buyer is aware that the vinyl roll or film they are purchasing isn’t actually a carbon fiber product, then there are good materials out there that are flexible and can easily be applied for cosmetic purposes, but let the buyer beware: Just because the label says carbon fiber, doesn’t mean it actually is. 

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